Closed loop heating system

ABSTRACT

A closed loop heating system for heating air of a given space includes a vacuum pump, a boiler, a heat exchanger, a blower, and a piping network. The vacuum pump maintains a low pressure in the piping network. The boiler is in fluid communication with the vacuum pump via the pumping network for heating a working fluid. The boiler heats the working fluid to a heated vapor. The heat exchanger is in fluid communication with the boiler for receiving the heated vapor via the piping network. The blower is positioned proximal to the heat exchanger for receiving air from the given space. The blower blows the received air over the heat exchanger for heating the air of the given space.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention disclosed herein generally relates to heating systems.More particularly, the invention relates to a closed loop heating systemfor heating air of any given space.

BACKGROUND

Heating systems maintain temperatures of living spaces in cold regionsat a level that ensures the occupant comfort. Typically, heating systemsuse thermal energy to warm the interior of a room or building.Traditionally, warm air furnaces would heat its heat exchanger directlywith a gas or oil flame. Additionally, furnaces distributing heat fromthe combustion of fossil fuels are also popular. Steam heating systemsare also used for heating larger buildings. These systems utilize thethermal energy generated by the combustion of coal, oil, or gas. Thereexists also air handlers that can be equipped with hot water coils usinga near by boiler to circulate its water. Although, there exists multiplesteam heating systems, the amount of heat or thermal energy required togenerate sufficient steam to heat a given space is high. A system, whichreduces the amount of heat required to generate sufficient steam to heata given space, is required.

Hence, there is a long felt but unresolved need for a system, whichreduces the amount of heat required to generate sufficient steam to heata given space. Moreover, there is a need for a system, which is saferand cleaner to operate than existing systems. Furthermore, there is aneed for a system, which requires less maintenance.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in asimplified form that are further disclosed in the detailed descriptionof the invention. This summary is not intended to identify key oressential inventive concepts of the claimed subject matter, nor is itintended for determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.

The closed loop heating system for heating air of a given space,disclosed herein, addresses the above-mentioned need for a system, whichreduces the amount of heat required to generate sufficient steam to heata given space. Moreover, the invention addresses a need for a system,which is safer and cleaner to operate than existing systems.Furthermore, the invention addresses the need for a system, whichrequires less maintenance. The closed loop heating system comprises avacuum pump, a boiler, a heat exchanger, a blower, and a piping network.The vacuum pump maintains a low pressure in the piping network. Theboiler is in fluid communication with the vacuum pump via the pipingnetwork for heating a working fluid. The boiler heats the working fluidto a heated vapor. The heat exchanger is in fluid communication with theboiler for receiving the heated vapor via the piping network. The bloweris positioned proximal to the heat exchanger for receiving air from thegiven space. The blower blows the received air over the heat exchangerfor heating the air of the given space.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing summary, as well as the following detailed description ofthe invention, is better understood when read in conjunction with theappended drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the invention,exemplary constructions of the invention are shown in the drawings.However, the invention is not limited to the specific methods andstructures disclosed herein. The description of a method step or astructure referenced by a numeral in a drawing is applicable to thedescription of that method step or structure shown by that same numeralin any subsequent drawing herein.

FIG. 1 exemplarily illustrates a schematic diagram of a closed loopheating system.

FIG. 2 exemplarily illustrates an electrical wiring diagram of a closedloop heating system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 exemplarily illustrates a schematic diagram of a closed loopheating system 100. The closed loop heating system 100 comprises avacuum pump 101, a boiler 102, a heat exchanger 103, a blower 104, and apiping network 105. The vacuum pump 101 maintains a low pressure in thepiping network 105. In an embodiment, the vacuum pump 101 is tied intothe return line at the float and thermostatic trap. The vacuum pump 101runs until the blower 104 turns on. The vacuum pump 101 does not need torun after the heated vapor, for example, steam, has filled the closedloop heating system 100 as the natural effect of steam condensing backto water will both maintain the vacuum and deepen the effect of thevacuum. The boiler 102 is in fluid communication with the vacuum pump101 via the piping network 105 for heating a working fluid. The boiler102 heats the working fluid to a heated vapor. The heat exchanger 103 isin fluid communication with the boiler 102 for receiving the heatedvapor via the piping network 105. The blower 104 is positioned proximalto the heat exchanger 103 for receiving air from the given space.

The blower 104 blows the received air over the heat exchanger 103 forheating the air of the given space. The boiler 102 boils the workingfluid, for example, water in vacuum. This reduces the amount of heatneeded to make steam as the boiling temperature of steam is drasticallyreduced at pressure levels of vacuum. Since, steam has a high heatoutput; steam moves itself without the use of pumps. Moreover, thegenerated steam only moves around a small area speeding up the entireprocess. The closed loop heating system 100 lowers energy cost as only asmall amount of water is required to make steam for the steam cyclethrough the heat exchanger 103. The water circulating in the closed loopheating system 100 is not lost as the water is contained in a vacuumtight system. This eliminates the need to add new water to the boiler102 often, which in turn reduces the impurities put into the boiler 102keeping it cleaner inside the closed loop heating system 100. In anembodiment, the boiler 102 and the piping network 105 is made of, forexample, a stainless steel material, copper material, etc., to cut down,or completely eliminate the rust and slug that plagues steam systems.

In an embodiment, the boiler 102 of the closed loop heating system 100operates under ounces of pressure as opposed to pounds in other systems.This increases safety of the boiler 102. The closed loop heating system100 is a central heating system that uses a small steam boiler 102fueled by an energy source, for example, electricity, natural gas,propane, oil, condensing coil in a refrigeration system, etc., to boilwater under a vacuum to heat a single heat exchanger 103. The purpose ofboiling water while in a vacuum is to drop the saturation temperature sowater turns to steam under 212° F. at a vacuum pressure of about 20inches of Hg. Vacuum is measured on a scale from 0-30 and representsinches of mercury. The steam moves at about 160° F. and the volume ofsteam increases from about 27 cubic feet to 75 cubic feet per pound ofwater. The closed loop heating system 100 heats the heat exchanger 103of various sizes based on varying quantities of water in the boiler 102.Furthermore, with no air in the piping network 105, the steam does nothave to build pressure to push the air out, allowing the gas to fill thepiping network 105 with lighting speed.

The boiler 102 is a tank where water is boiled. The boiler 102 hastapping for the steam to rise out of the boiler 102 and the steamcondensate to return to the boiler 102. The boiler 102 comprises variouscomponents, for example, the boiler relief valve, the pressure troll,the vacuum gauge, the sight glass, the skim tapping, the drain, the heatsource 108, etc. The boiler relief valve opens if the boiler pressure isover 15 psi, which is the standard for a low-pressure steam system. Theboiler relief valve regulates the pressure of the boiler 102. The vacuumgauge measures the vacuum in the closed loop heating system 100. Thesight glass shows the water level in the boiler 102.

In an embodiment, the boiler 102 is made from a stainless steelmaterial. In an embodiment, the piping network 105 to and from theboiler 102 is made of a copper material to keep corrosion and rustparticles out of the closed loop heating system 100. In residentialapplications, the boiler 102 requires about two gallons of water to heatthe given space by exchanging heat in the heat exchangers 103. In anembodiment, the boiler 102 heats a single heat exchanger 103 in theclosed loop heating system 100 or several radiators in the space. In anembodiment, the closed loop heating system 100 comprises a cut offdevice 106 for turning off the heat source 108 if the level of workingfluid in the boiler 102 is low.

The cut off device 106 shuts the heat source 108 down in the event that,the water level drops below a safe point for the boiler 102 to functionproperly. In an embodiment, the boiler 102 is heated using the heatsource 108, for example, an electric heating element, a refrigerationsystem-condensing coil, etc. When the cut off device 106 is activatedthe heat source 108 is shut off for about three minutes to allow theproper amount of condensate to return to the boiler 102. When thisprocess is completed, the cut off device 106 signals an automatic waterfeed 107 to top off the water level. After the cut off device 106 isre-submerged, the boiler 102 returns to normal operation. In anembodiment, the cut off device 106 is powered by 24 volts. The automaticwater feed 107 adds water to the boiler 102 when the cut off device 106is signaled and is cycling or the boiler 102 is low on water. In anembodiment, 24 volts power the automatic water feed 107. When the steamcondenses back to water, the condensate drains back to the boiler 102for the process to happen again through the condensate return.

The Hartford loop 109 is the name for the water trap made to maintain aproper water level in the boiler 102 and prevent the boiler water frombacking up into the return. A float and thermostatic trap is mounted tothe exit side of the heat exchanger 103. In an embodiment, the float andthermostatic trap has three ports. The float and thermostatic trap has asteam connection in port, a steam connection out port, and an air vent.The vacuum line port leading to the vacuum pump, which pulls air fromthe piping. The steam works its way back around the heat exchanger 103.The steam condenses into water and fills the trap. A ball float lifts todrain the condensate back to the boiler 102 through the Hartford loop109. The blower 104 pulls air out of the conditioned space and acrossthe heat exchanger 103 and then recirculates the heated air into theconditioned space via a duct network in the closed loop heating system100. The vapor stat is a pressure control device that regulates thesteam pressure of the boiler 102 within ounces of pressure opposed towhole or half pounds. Existing steam systems control the firing of theirburners with these controls. The steam separator is used to protect thevacuum pump 101 from moisture

FIG. 2 exemplarily illustrates an electrical wiring diagram of a closedloop heating system 100. In an embodiment, the heat source 108 issupplied with a power of about 4500W to heat the working fluid, forexample, water to steam. The thermostat control senses the temperatureof the water or a pipe surface.

The foregoing examples have been provided merely for the purpose ofexplanation and are in no way to be construed as limiting of the closedloop heating system 100, disclosed herein. While the closed loop heatingsystem 100 has been described with reference to various embodiments, itis understood that the words, which have been used herein, are words ofdescription and illustration, rather than words of limitation. Further,although the closed loop heating system 100, has been described hereinwith reference to particular means, materials, and embodiments, theclosed loop heating system 100 is not intended to be limited to theparticulars disclosed herein; rather, the closed loop heating system 100extends to all functionally equivalent structures, methods and uses,such as are within the scope of the appended claims. Those skilled inthe art, having the benefit of the teachings of this specification, mayeffect numerous modifications thereto and changes may be made withoutdeparting from the scope and spirit of the closed loop heating system100 disclosed herein in their aspects.

What is claimed is:
 1. A closed loop heating system for heating air of agiven space, the closed loop heating system comprising: a vacuum pumpfor maintaining a low pressure in a piping network; a boiler in fluidcommunication with the vacuum pump via the pumping network for heating aworking fluid, the boiler configured to heat the working fluid to aheated vapor; a heat exchanger in fluid communication with the boilerfor receiving the heated vapor via the piping network; and a blowerpositioned proximal to the heat exchanger for receiving air from thegiven space, wherein the blower blows the received air over the heatexchanger for heating the air of the given space.
 2. The closed loopheating system of claim 1, further comprising a ducting network fordistributing the heated air from the closed loop heating system to thegiven space and receiving air from the given space.
 3. The closed loopheating system of claim 1, wherein the given space is one or more roomsof a building.
 4. The closed loop heating system of claim 1, furthercomprising a cut off device for turning off a heat source if the levelof working fluid in the boiler is low.
 5. The closed loop heating systemof claim 1, further comprising a vacuum gauge for measuring vacuum. 6.The closed loop heating system of claim 1, further comprising a boilerrelief valve for regulating pressure of the boiler.
 7. The closed loopheating system of claim 1, wherein the working fluid is water.
 8. Theclosed loop heating system of claim 1, wherein the heated vapor issteam.